Tomorrow marks my two-year anniversary for my move to London. It is so crazy to think that two years ago I was having my final day in Norway before moving. At the time I had no idea what I was getting myself into. And I definitely could not imagine where life would take me.

Now two years have passed, and a lot has definitely happened and changed. I have always believed that everything happens for a reason. And with experience and memories from the past two years, I am ready to make this the best year ever. My bucket-list is longer than ever before, and I have so much I want to experience before finishing my degree. The move-in date is now less than a week away, and I wanted to share with you all some of my tips and experiences on how to make the most out of your study abroad:

Save up money

This might be a no-brainer, but I had to include it anyway. It is so important to save up money before moving away from home. And this is especially important when moving abroad. Most of my friends who study at home in Norway have a part-time job in addition to their studies. But when you study abroad, it is not always as easy to get a good job. Instead of working in London, I have tried my best to work as much as possible when I am home in Norway. The money I earn over the summer I will then save up, and spend on fun events in London. I really want to make the most out of my years in London and experience the town and other places. Even though there are a lot of amazing things you can do completely free of charge, most experiences are going to cost you. And I do not want (lack of) money to ever be the stopper for my plans.

Research and make a bucket list

Before moving to a new country, you should definitely do your research and make a bucket list. Write down things you want to do, places you want to see, restaurants you want to try out and so on. Find both famous must-visit places and hidden gems through blogs, social media, friends and family, books and online reviews. No matter if you are staying somewhere for a few months, one semester or several years I can promise you one thing; time will move unbelievably quickly.

Keep organised

In order to have fun and explore where you are living, in addition to completing your studies, it is important to keep organised. I personally have a lot of independent study time, so I will try my best to do course work in good time. This will let me be flexible and available to do fun things in the evenings and weekdays. I will also plan to do reading and course work in advance if I know I have a trip or visitors coming up, so that I know I can take a few days off without worrying and falling behind.

Plan (and book) ahead

Not only do I keep organised when it comes to my coursework; I also try my best to plan and book my travels and events in advance. Even though I am still back in Norway, I actually already have two trips, a few concerts and visits planned and booked. The planning is important so that I can work around these events. But what is even more important is that I have already booked for these things. My perspective is that if I plan, book and pay trips and concerts in advance (when I have the money freshly saved up) I have already committed to it and there is no way back. But, if I were to wait until the event is closer to book it, I would maybe not have/prioritise the money for it anymore. Also, it is of course always cheaper to book trips and hotels early on!

Grab every opportunity

Your student years, and especially your experiences abroad, will hopefully be your best ever. You are young and free, without any real responsibilities or commitments. That is why you should grab every opportunity you get and make the most out of it. Like I said earlier; I can promise you that time will move unbelievably quickly. This is your time to have fun and make friends and memories for life. Enjoy and good luck!